PERSONAL SERVICES

UK, 1987, 105 minutes, Colour.
Julie Walters, Alec Mc Cowan, Tim Woodward.
Directed by Terry Jones.

Julie Walters (Educating Rita, She'll Be Wearing Pink Pyjamas, Car Trouble) is very good as the waitress-turned-prostitute. She makes the character believable and understandable. There are also some funny sequences and an atmosphere of social critique of England's surface respectability and hidden kinks. Her brothel is not the ugly Soho type, but a kind of hotel for eccentric and lonely elderly men wanting sexual indulgence. In fact, the pathos of these men and their infantile fantasies count as the humour. The film's repetition of these sequences means that the character studies, interesting as they are, are not developed.

There is a good supporting cast and a surprising performance from classical actor Alec Mc Cowan. Directed by Python writer and director, Terry Jones (Life of Brian, Meaning of Life).

1. Interesting? Enjoyable? Observation of character? Comment on society?

2. The atmosphere of England, London, the world of the rich, or the poor, of the ordinary, of the special? The presentation of the brothel? Musical score?

3. Production values? The background of London, the stars and the English cast?

4. The real-life Cynthia Payne, audiences knowing about her from the exploits of the '70s and '30s? Her life, biography? Her court appearances, fines, being let go? Her acting as an adviser to the film? (Questions of continuity and comprehension of various episodes in her life?)

5. The introduction to Christine, waiting tables, friendships, talking about sex, her personal ignorance and laughter, her keys, the rent, running through the suburbs for her rent, her hold over the girls, the landlord, her decision to step in for some of the girls, sexual favours for the landlord (and the later use of his name for a 'special')? Her friends, her experiences? The possibility of her marrying Sidney? Her dreams and the long fantasy of elegance? Her son? Her having him at boarding school? Her sister and the wedding? her father? The police and the arrest?

6. Shirley and her professor, her style, her various routines, wealthy Arab clients, cars, the arrest, in court, her friendship? Her husband and his allowing his wife this profession? Shirley, as a person, the various routines for the clients and her ironic observation of this?

7. Dolly and her role as a maid, answering the telephone, the rent, her friendship? the wedding? Her being discovered to being with a man? The in-laws and their reaction? Christine's father? The disruption to the wedding? The rumpus caused? Dolly's own personal fear? Quiet? Help, the arrest? Her participating in Christine's work? As a character?

8. Christine and David, the money for his school, taking him away for the wedding, his manners and the wedding? His relationship to his grandfather, his unknown father? His birthday and his being given the prostitute?

9. Christine's father and sister, the wedding, its mood, Christine taking photos, the reception, emotion at the ceremony, Dolly and the upset, the attack by her father and their walk across the field, Christine telling him the truth and his reaction, the irony of his turning up wanting a prostitute? The young prostitute receiving him? The contrast with her sister and marrying the policeman?

10. The arrival of the Wing- Commander, his style, personal memories of the war, his kinkiness? The sexual encounter with Chris and Shirley? The arrest? His living in, dressing up, playing the piano, arranging the client gardeners? his final defiance?

11. The pathos of the clients: the man who had been married for 23 years and mistook Christine for the prostitute? His return to her? The landlord and his 'special'? His dressing up in Christine's clothes? The man gagged in the box - and their not finding him in time? The Civil Servant dressed up as a woman pretending to be a lesbian? The schoolboy wanting to be spanked? The man in woman's clothes wanting to be spanked? Christine participating, learning the techniques, her ironic laughter?

12. Christine going upmarket, her parties, the range of clients, the use of the Christmas carol to highlight the Christmas season, the Christmas party, the golden angel, the raid and the repercussions, in Jail, Christine's discussion with the police?

13. The irony of the identity of the judge, the court filled with judges and all the clients dressed as judges? The significance of this final image and its comment on Britain?

14. The British and sexuality, the history of the Victorian period, cover-ups, espionage and complications and scandals? The men and their needs and wants, fantasies? The clients and their respectability? Sleazy or funny? Pathos?

15. The non-moral attitude of the film, its presentation of facts and of people?